Greater Greater Washington writes about where we live, work, and play, why we make the location choices we do, and what forces shape these places.

Many people would like to live in safe, diverse, walkable neighborhoods with access to transit, stores, parks, good schools, and other amenities. While our region has more walkable urban places than most, the demand still exceeds available housing, making these places more expensive (and prices keep rising rapidly).

We must ensure that there are enough housing choices so everyone who wants to live in such a neighborhood can choose to do so. We should ensure that housing in desirable areas is available to people at many points along the income spectrum, and take action to fight segregation. And we can improve the vitality of all neighborhoods by encouraging new retail and amenities to improve the quality of life for all residents.

This morning, HPRB reviewed the landmark nomination for the Washington Hilton. I’ve argued before that this building isn’t worthy of being landmarked. Many people have made respectable arguments on both sides, and I respect those who feel this building is in fact iconic. But one thing worries me: the HPRB members who voted in favor spoke less about this building’s… Keep reading…

This is the fourth of ten daily posts about why the Zoning Commission should approve the Office of Planning recommendations on off-street parking, leading up to the hearing on Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 pm. Please attend and testify if you can, or submit comments to the zoning commission in this thread. Keep reading…

The official word on the I-66 deck: Infosnack HQ made some calls and found out the detailed scoop on the parking garage. One of five parking decks is free to the public, and fills up with commuters on weekdays (why can’t they charge, again?) while the others are used by Arlington Public Schools. Keep reading…

Richard Layman pens a defense of parking reform in the usually anti-change themail@dcwatch. Explaining the anti-urban views of many city dwellers, he writes, “Most of us who live in the city came from other places where the car was dominant. So we don’t understand that we are imprinted with a particular paradigm, and that this paradigm is inappropriate for the city.”… Keep reading…

A year after moving into their newly renovated Fifth Avenue apartment, a New York couple received a poem in the mail from their architect, Eric Clough. It directed them to a secret panel containing a book, which in turn led them through 18 puzzles built into their house. Keep reading…

After hearing numerous arguments by residents against legalizing accessory dwellings, the Arlington County Board passed the proposal, but not without first watering it down further. According to the Sun Gazette, the Board amended the proposal to only allow 28 accessory permits per year (the number planners had estimated people would apply for) and to require an owner to live in… Keep reading…

Yesterday, I wrote about the Takoma development proposal, and criticized the characterization of it as replacing “green space.” Commenter DC_Chica pointed out that some of the space is in fact green; from the satellite view, it looks like it’s about half. But much of that will remain green, and become a more usable green space. Keep reading…

The Montgomery County Planning Board reviewed proposed zoning rules yesterday that would create transit-oriented mixed-use (“TMX”) zones. It’s a good idea, but as written, it will also encourage building low-density, auto-oriented development in areas far from transit. Keep reading…

Still stuck in the 1960s: The Takoma Park City Council voted to keep spending city resources fighting a plan by WMATA and EYA to turn the big parking lot and dead space around the Takoma Metro into townhouses and a “village green.” They’re right that the townhouses have too much parking—two spaces per house, in many cases—but wrong about “green… Keep reading…

July 31 is a very important hearing. The Zoning Commission will be hearing public comment about DC’s proposed off-street parking reforms. As I’ve written before, these are vital changes to modernize our 1958 zoning code which required each new development to build large amounts of parking, pushing a suburban pattern of development over the existing historic urban… Keep reading…

Leave your comments here for the Zoning Commission. I will forward everything posted in this thread to them. Please sign these with your real name and use a real email address (I will include both when I send it, but your email won’t be shown here or posted anywhere online.) Keep reading…

Tomorrow, the Arlington County Board is having a hearing on the proposal to legalize accessory dwellings. This would allow homeowners (but only those who live in their homes) in single-family neighborhoods to create an apartment for two people (like a garage apartment). Keep reading…

S is for slow: At last night’s public meeting for the S1/S2/S4 buses, participants suggested limited-stop service, removing parking for bus-only lanes, and fewer stops (in Columbia Heights, there’s a stop almost every single block) were among the suggestions. (Post) Keep reading…

Money has one of those silly rankings of the best places to live in America. Columbia, Maryland is #8; Hunter Mill, Sully, and Burke, Virginia #19, 25, and 31 respectively; Gaithersburg #29, Reston #37, and Rockville #66. Keep reading…

This morning, the National Capital Planning Commission (the federal government’s planning body for the DC area) released a great proposal for the future of the Federal area of the city. It calls for decking over not only the E Street Expressway but almost all of the “ramp spaghetti”, creating space for new buildings east and northeast or the Kennedy Center and… Keep reading…

Last night, the Dupont Circle ANC passed a thoughtfully crafted resolution on the Hilton proposed development. The ANC opposes the landmarking, and also opposes the project as presented. They objected to the inadequate loading docks, insufficient parking, the mass of the development, and the swimming pool. But as Commissioner Mike Silverstein emphasized, the primary concern… Keep reading…

Rapid buses coming rapidly: WMATA has a priority list of 24 corridors to get the rapid bus treatment including limited-stop express service and “signal priority” technology to hold yellow lights for buses, reports BeyondDC. Last night, Jim Hamre of WMATA presented details to Maryland’s Action Committee for Transit. Tops on the list for DC are the 16th Street… Keep reading…